Walt Mossberg talks movie download obstacles and more

Unless they are gonna force digital downloads onto people i cant see it being or replacing hardcopies/physical unless its for movie rentals only.

1) People who buy a movie may want to sell it later , when theyare strapped for cash.

2) Internet speed is a major problem

3) Download limits and capps another

4) Finding a isp that is not over subscribed.

5) people like a physical copy of there purchase so they know there money has purchased an actual item.

6) HDD space, who in there right minds will go out and spend more money on a hdd because there current one is full, the ammount of movies buy per month on blu-ray hd-dvd and normal dvd would fill a 500 gig HDD up in no time.

I think we are way wayoff befor any kind of download service for movies becomes the norm ... again unless its a rental service likes on xbox live with netflix etc.

Maybe someone should tell, spoonard. Only kidding spoony

[Post edited by tony1569 on Apr 7, 2008]

Dave27 you’re forgetting something about the amount you spend on disc movies, about 1/3 the cost of those movies is putting them on disc and boxing them up. You could fit between 10 and 15 Blu-ray movies, with all titles, features and menus onto a 500GB HDD. So you’re looking at anywhere from $250-$525 depending on titles and price (prices between $25 and $35). A 500GB external drive is around $150, and cutting out that 1/3 of the production cost (and even more when it comes to blu-ray and all the licensing fees) the distribution companies could still sell their movies at a far more substantial profit than what they get on Blu-rays and still come out bellow the medium value of 10 Blu-ray movies.

It's a bling thing for me.

As an avid collector, it's just nice to show off my collection to guests.

I don't think downloads will ever replace tangible media.

wolfen, a lot of people like having a wall full of movies to show off, but the minute retailers and distribution/production companies relies that there is more profit in Digital Downloads than hard copy media it will go that way and consumers will have no choice.

That's why *Download & Burn* would be an excellent solution to most people :- saving cost && owning hard copies.

[Post edited by XiongW on Apr 7, 2008]

I have a love/hate thing going on with my "wall of movies". I often wonder when i'm going to run out of wall space and be forced to build a new house....but on the other hand,them discs and cover art sure are purty. Question. "If these downloads are at a higher resolution than 1080,would you be more receptive to the idea of D.D."?

Ok, 2 thing have to happen for Digi DL's I hope you all agree

1. All studios BIG and small have to commit to releasing their movies in full 1080p/7.1 (uncompressed ) and those companies must communicate with broadband ISP's for higher transfer speeds upl and downl, all at decent prices of course!

2. manufactorers must release players capable of playing 1080p,7.1/or 1440p for future rez, and heres the key ingredient READY!!! upgradable HOT SWAPPING harddrives so if you buy 1000movies on lets say 500GIG drive and you need more space BAM!!! (like emeril) HOT SWAP that drive for another and more movies at your disposel, and last ingredient is CHEAP MOVIE PRICES (ex.2.99 movie only/or 7.99 w/ extras) w/ free REDOWNLOADS in case your movie gets corrupted, since files arnt perfect!!!



PEACE, epic green ninja ebaystore OUT!

[Post edited by epicgreenninja on Apr 8, 2008]

Quote:
6) HDD space, who in there right minds will go out and spend more money on a hdd because there current one is full,

In this case, "there" should be spelled "their" NOT "there".

Quote:
wolfen, a lot of people like having a wall full of movies to show off, but the minute retailers and distribution/production companies relies that there is more profit in Digital Downloads than hard copy media it will go that way and consumers will have no choice.

Oh yeah, right, sure they will.
Yeah, they'll just give up any profits they can make off people that don't have the budget for expensive hard drives or high-speed connection ( and believe me, I know pleny of people still living on dial-up . . . and so does AOL).

I've said this before and I'll say it again, THERE WILL ALWAYS BE CHOICE!!!! Hollywood is not about to sacrifice loosing millions on selling to the average poor Joe that can only afford 1 or 2 DVDs a month. Welfare, Crack Momma's like to watch movies, too. Downloading and streaming simply offer Hollywood ANOTHER margin of profit. There is no way in hell, or even in the next 20-years, that Hollywood will give up physical media. Downloading and Streaming will be a CHOICE to the consumer but in no way should it ever be considered a replacement, as even Hollywood knows what a stupid business choice that would be.

EDIT: Not to mention all the retail chains they'd piss-off that depend on a percentage of sales through physical media. Lots of people on Zunes & iPods these days, yet I haven't seen the multitude of CDs diminish on the racks. Lots of people download games and software, yet even these company's offer the consumer the physical media and it is also sold on the shelf. Again, it's about "choice"! say it with me now, "C H O I C E . . . "



[Post edited by Tim Raynor on Apr 8, 2008]